Find the Best Car Deals Near You ⤵
Cheapest Cars to Repair and Maintain
March 16, 2017
This week, I wanted to alert you to a new study done by RepairPal.com, showing the cheapest and most expensive cars to repair and maintain, based on actual repair and maintenance data compiled by the service.
For example, when looking at small cars, the Toyota Corolla is expected to have $341 in annual repair and maintenance costs, while the Volkswagen Golf GTI will have double that - $760.
See below for the cheapest and most expensive cars by category.
Cheapest to Repair & Maintain
| Category | Vehicle | RepairPal Score | Average Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small cars | Toyota Corolla | 21 | $341 |
| Sedans | Honda Accord | 21 | $351 |
| Sports Cars | Ford Mustang | 27 | $454 |
| Compact SUV | Honda CR-V | 22 | $385 |
| Full-Size SUV | Nissan Pathfinder | 24 | $406 |
| Minivan | Honda Odyssey | 24 | $403 |
| Pickup Truck | Toyota Tacoma | 23 | $398 |
Most Expensive to Repair & Maintain
| Category | Vehicle | RepairPal Score | Average Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Cars | Volkswagen Golf GTI | 43 | $760 |
| Sedans | Mercedes C300 | 68 | $1,094 |
| Sports Cars | Mercedes SL63 AMG | 85 | $1,962 |
| Compact SUV | Porsche Cayenne | 72 | $1,200 |
| Full-size SUV | Mercedes GLS63 | 85 | $2,009 |
| Minivan | Kia Sedona | 26 | $455 |
| Pickup Truck | Ram 3500 | 73 | $1,244 |
Signup for The Weekly Newsletter
Each week, I'll keep you up-to-date on the latest car deals and news that might affect your purchase. This includes...
- Best Rebates, Incentives, and Lease Deals
- Latest Car Buying Scams and Tricks
- The Best & Worst Time to Buy a Car
- Which Cars You Should Avoid
About The Author
Gregg Fidan is the founder of RealCarTips. After being ripped off on his first car purchase, he devoted several years to figuring out the best ways to avoid scams and negotiate
the best car deals. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject of car buying and taught thousands of car shoppers how to get the best deals.
Latest Weekly Car Buying Tips
January 2026
- Top 100 Cheapest Lease Deals Jan 15, 2026
- Biggest Discounts on New Cars January 2026 Jan 15, 2026
- New Cars with the Most Available Inventory Jan 15, 2026
- Real Prices of Midsize Cars Jan 15, 2026
- Best 0% Finance Deals January 2026 Jan 09, 2026
- Best Bang for Your Buck Lease Deals Jan 09, 2026
- Best Electric, Hybrid Lease Deals Jan 09, 2026
- Real Prices of Compact Cars Jan 09, 2026
December 2025
- Best End of Year Car Deals for 2025 Dec 25, 2025
- Cars With the Largest Rebates Dec 25, 2025
- Real Prices of Large SUVs Dec 25, 2025
- Cheapest Luxury Lease Deals Dec 25, 2025
- All SUV Lease Deals Compared December 2025 Dec 18, 2025
- Top 100 Cheapest New Cars Right Now Dec 18, 2025
- Price Comparison of Subcompact SUVs Dec 18, 2025
- Real Prices of Midsize SUVs Dec 11, 2025
- Largest Hidden Dealer Rebates Dec 11, 2025
- Real Prices of Pickup Trucks Dec 04, 2025
I welcome your car buying questions. Email Me and I'll be glad to answer them!
